Bicycle stand

ABSTRACT

A bicycle stand for the reciprocal parking of bicycles consists of a vertically arranged spiral portion of circularly bent pipe or solid material. This spiral portion stands on the ground with its ends. The height of the spiral portion corresponds to the average height of the steering head pipe/handlebar shaft and seat support/upper portion rear seat stay areas of commercially available bicycles. A connecting brace (6) having angular pieces at the oppositely located arc-shaped portions of the spiral portion is provided in its lower area. The spiral portion is left-handed or right-handed. Fixed but detachable end pieces or spacer-connection pieces of an optional shape are attachable at the ends of the spiral portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bicycle stand for leaning the bicycle, inconnection with the adjustment of a wheel of the parked bicycle in themanner of pliers. The invention is determined and suitable for parkingup to two bicycles by a single stand, as well as for forming bicycleparking systems with a desired number of parking places for bicycles.

Bicycle stands have been known and have been in use in various stylesfor a long time. Among those in use for the longest time are so-calledtraditional commercial stands in which metal bars are made in the shapeof an acute triangle, in which the smallest angle is located at theupper point, and in which a plurality of such triangles are fastened soas to be spaced by approximately 10 cm on a base frame or transversetie-bars in such a way that they extend parallel relative to oneanother. The front wheel of the bicycle is pushed into the grate, whichis formed in this manner, wherein it is possible to use both sides. Thechief disadvantage of these traditional commercial stands is that thehandlebars, front-wheel hubs or pedals of bicycles which are parked nextto or opposite one another can hook into one another. Moreover, they arefixed so as to be unchangeable with respect to the number of parkingplaces, easily lead to damage to the parked bicycles by means of theirown structural component parts (particularly damage to the finish, guardplates, etc.) and are also unsatisfactory with respect to appearance.

In addition, skid stands, in which sheet-metal strips which are bent toform skids are welded onto frames or L-shaped angles and in which thearrangement is effected in a flat manner or at an inclined angle, havebeen known for a long time. These skid stands do avoid the risk ofdamage to the parked bicycle, namely the forks, handlebars and wheels,provided a sufficient spacing is maintained between the individual skidswhich are located next to one another. But the skids only provide aninsufficient support, since the parked bicycle is grasped by the skidonly by the tires of one or both wheels and, at most, at a short area ofthe wheel rim. In addition, there is the risk of damage to the wheelsdue to bending of the rims and--when stood up--the risk of the wheelfalling down if it is not carefully parked. Finally, these skid standsrequire a lot of space and also cannot be adapted to the respectiverequirement of parking places.

Also in use are the so-called clip wheel stands, in which two parallel,vertically arranged stirrups are connected with one another and fastenedto supports, tie-bars or a wall in such a way that they have avertically extending gap along their entire depth, or in part. The frontwheel of the bicycle to be parked is inserted in these stands in orderto be adjusted therein. These clip wheel stands also have substantialdisadvantages. In particular, the adjustment of the parked bicycle isusually unsatisfactory because of the different widths of the tires/rimsof bicycles in use. In addition, the clip stirrups can be bentrelatively easily so that they are completely unusable. In addition,every bicycle stand requires either its own support, which is firmlyanchored in the ground, or cross-bars with a corresponding anchoring orfastening element for walls. The anchoring of the support in the groundis also susceptible to damage when the bicycle stands alone. Finally,the clip wheel stands are unsatisfactory with respect to appearance,regardless of the related shape of the stirrups of the clips.

The aforementioned disadvantages of the clip wheel stands also applysubstantially to the stirrup wheel stands, in which stirrups, whichsubstantially correspond to the stirrups of the clips and have ahorizontally extending opening, are stood on the ground or are anchoredin the ground. In particular, they also have the disadvantage ofunsatisfactory stability in many types of bicycle with narrow tires orsmall wheels; moreover, they are not very stab-e to the extent that theyare not anchored in the ground.

The bicycle railings, which are related as an alternative and whichconsist of a tubular stirrup for leaning the bicycle at mid-height or atthe height of the steering head pipe/handlebar shaft, have substantialdisadvantages. On the one hand, the leaning bicycle has relativelylittle support at the vertical tubular stirrup and it requires carefulleaning with the necessary inclination. On the other hand, the tubularstirrup must absolutely be anchored in the subsoil or the bicyclerailing must be provided with base plates having a large surface area,that is, in order to be sufficiently stable when a bicycle is parked onone side. In addition, there is a considerable space requirement. Inaddition to the described disadvantages of the stirrup stands, parkinggrooves, which are arranged in the ground of the parking place and inwhich one wheel of the bicycle is inserted (concrete formed blocks, castgrooves, etc.), have the further disadvantage of collecting street dirtquickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has the object of providing a bicycle stand of theforegoing type, in which, while avoiding the disadvantages of the knownconstructions, greater stability of the bicycle stand and the bicyclesparked therein, a more rational use of the surface area available forparking the bicycles, improved spatial and aesthetic adaptation to theenvironment of the parking place, and the interlinkage of an optionalnumber of bicycle stands, which is simple and is adapted to theparticular conditions of the parking places, are achieved.

This object is met, according to the invention, by a bicycle stand witha spiral portion.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows an isometric drawing of the bicycle stand, according to theinvention, with continuous end portions in the ground area;

FIG. 2 shows the bicycle stand according to FIG. 1 in a side view;

FIG. 3 shows the bicycle stand according to FIG. 1 in a front view;

FIG. 4 shows the bicycle stand according to FIG. 2 with parked bicycle;

FIG. 5 shows the bicycle stand as in FIG. 1, but with right-handedspiral portion and additional tie-rods;

FIG. 6 shows an isometric drawing of the bicycle stand, according to theinvention, with angularly bent, trapezoidal "spiral portion" withadditional tie-rods;

FIG. 7 shows the bicycle stand in a side view with "spiral portion" inrectangular form and additional tie-rods, in a side view;

FIG. 8 shows the bicycle stand according to FIG. 7, but withouttie-rods;

FIG. 9 shows the bicycle stand according to FIG. 7 in a front view;

FIG. 10 shows an interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according to theinvention, with spacer-connection piece, in a top view;

FIG. 11 shows another interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according tothe invention, according to FIG. 10, but in exploded presentation;

FIG. 12 shows the interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according to FIG.10, but in a side view;

FIG. 13 shows the interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according to theinvention, with a variant of the spacer-connection piece, in a top view;

FIG. 14 shows the interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according to theinvention, with another variant of the spacer-connection piece; and

FIG. 15 shows the interlinkage of two bicycle stands, according to theinvention, with another variant of the spacer-connection piece, in a topview.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the bicycle stand,according to the invention, consists of a spiral portion 1 of bent pipewhich is vertically arranged and stands on the ground with its ends 2and 3. The ends 2 and 3 of the spiral portion 1 are lengthened by meansof end pieces 4 and 5 when the bicycle stand is set up individually inorder to achieve greater stability. The diameter of the spiral portion 1is dimensioned in such a way that the height of the upper vertex and theadjoining upper area correspond to the average height of the steeringhead pipe/handlebar shaft, seat support/upper part rear seat stays andpossibly the upper pipe of commercially available bicycles.

The connecting brace 6 is attached in the lower area of the spiralportion 1, wherein its two ends 7 and 8 are shaped in such a way that,the connecting brace 6 is at a distance from the spiral portion in thearea of its two projections at the spiral portion 1, which distancecorresponds at least to the largest cross-sectional width of the tiresand the rims of commercially available bicycles.

The described bicycle stand can receive two bicycles which are pushedinto it on both longitudinal sides so as to be opposite one another, asshown in FIG. 4.

As likewise shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the connecting brace 6 is advisablyarranged at the spiral portion 1 at a height such that its ends 7 and 8simultaneously from a stop for the bicycles which are inserted in thebicycle stands. However, the connecting brace 6 can also be arranged atanother place on the spiral portion 1 and, in particular, can extend onthe ground as a direct connection of the ends 2 and 3 of the spiralportion 1.

In a further development of the invention, shown in FIG. 5, tie-rods 9are arranged in the lower area of the spiral portion 1 near the groundon its two sides, respectively, which tie-rods 9 laterally overlap aportion of the front or rear wheel of the bicycle inserted in thebicycle stand and thus cooperate with the connecting brace 6 as acounterpart, as retaining stirrup or clip for the bicycle.

According to the invention, the spiral portion 1 can also beright-handed, instead of left-handed as in FIGS. 1 to 4. In addition, itlies within the scope of the invention that the spiral portion 1 doesnot extend circularly but with a changed radius of curve, e.g.elliptically.

It is also within the scope of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9,to bend the pipe of the spiral portion 1 angularly rather than bendingit so as to be round, so that, when seen from the side, it has the shapeof a trapezoid 1', rectangle 1", square, or the like, whose lower sidesare bent corresponding to the described spiral portion 1 and advisablylikewise have the elongations 4 and 5.

The bicycle stand can consist of different material, preferably ofmetal, plastic or bow wood, wherein pipe or solid material can both comeinto consideration.

In a further embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 10-12, thebicycle stand has end pieces 4', 5' at the ends 2 and 3 of the spiralportion 1, 1', 1" instead of inseparably attached end portions 4, 5, theend pieces 4', 5' being securely but detachably connected with thespiral portion 1, 1', 1" by means of pegs 10 or in another known manner(only end pieces 4' are shown). After removing one or both end pieces4', 5', another bicycle stand, according to the invention, can bedirectly attached at each side of the bicycle stand. In this manner, adesired quantity of bicycle stands can be placed next to one another ina continuous type of construction, the bicycle stands having the form ofa continuous spiral or spiral-like shape as seen as a whole.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, spacer-connection pieces 11 to 14 areinserted between the ends of the bicycle stands on the ground of theparking place in order to interlink a plurality of bicycle stands, theshape of these spacer-connection pieces 11 to 14 being optional, andeffect different arrangements and spacings of the individual bicyclestands in their interlinkage according to this shape.

FIG. 10 shows a horizontal row of bicycle stands in which the parkedbicycles stand diagonally relative to the longitudinal direction of thebicycle stands, but parallel relative to one another. FIGS. 11 and 12show an arrangement of interlinked bicycle stands which is laterallyoffset relative to the horizontal line, in which arrangement thebicycles also stand diagonally relative to the longitudinal direction ofthe bicycle stand row, but so as to be parallel relative to one another.FIG. 13 shows an interlinkage in which the bicycles--in groups of two ineach instance--stand one behind the other in the longitudinal directionof the bicycle stand row.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show other variants of the interlinkage of the bicyclestands.

The bicycle stands, according to the invention, already have therequired stability individually and also when reinforced by theirinterlinkage without other steps. To the extent that an additionalsafeguard against shifting and/or theft etc. is desired by the user,this can be effected in a known manner by means of clips, pegs, or thelike, which are attached at the ends 2, 3 of the bicycle stands or, whena plurality of bicycle stands are interlinked, also at spacer-connectionpieces 11, 12, 13, 14 and are anchored in the subsoil.

The bicycle stand, according to the invention, offers the followingadvantages relative to the known constructions: It makes use of theprinciple of leaning: the bicycle is accordingly not held in a portionof the front wheel like the clip and stirrup bicycle stands. Because ofthe shape of the spiral portion or the shape with an angular bend, whichacts in the same manner, the parked bicycle leans along a wide area ofthe steering head pipe/handlebar shaft and/or the seat support/of theupper part of the rear seat stays and possibly of the upper pipe,wherein all commercially available bicycles are leaned in a securemanner regardless of their constructional height.

Because of the shape of the spiral portion and the consequent spreadingof the bicycle stands in the ground area the required inclination of thebicycle, according to its positioning, is effected simultaneously as anadvantage relative to the bicycle railings in terms of the constructionin order to ensure a secure standing. The parked bicycle receives anadditional support in the area of the wheel in the form of the describedstop by means of the connecting brace between the two bent portions orsides in the lower area of the bicycle stand with the angulararticulation of the connecting brace. In the embodiment with additionaltie-rods the principle of leaning the bicycle is combined with that ofclamping of the running wheel.

The bicycle stand, according to the invention, already as an individualstand, enables two bicycles to be parked. Because of the construction,according to the invention, with the parking of the two wheels fromopposite direction and the guiding of the wheels in the stands by meansof its predetermined shape, reciprocal obstruction of the wheels by thehandlebar stirrup, wheel hubs, pedals or other structural componentparts is avoided. In addition, the bicycles can be parked so as to faceforward or rearward in the same manner and stand in the bicycle standequally securely in both cases.

The bicycle stand, according to the invention, already has sufficientstability individually because of the spreading in the ground area andcan therefore stand independently. In addition, it offers theconsiderable advantage that it can be interlinked, with or without theuse of the spacer-connection pieces, in a continuous type ofconstruction to form parking systems. The optional shape of thespacer-connection pieces, moreover, offers the possibility to adapt thespacing and the arrangement of the individual bicycle stands relative toone another in the interlinkage according to the predetermined spacerelationships and to achieve different overall impressions in terms ofappearance simultaneously. That is, when interlinking a plurality ofbicycle stands, according to the invention, the inherent stability makesan additional anchoring in the ground unnecessary. If an additionalanchoring is nevertheless effected, it is required only at individualplaces in the bicycle stand system, in contrast to the knownconstructions.

Finally, a risk of injury is virtually excluded in contrast to many ofthe known bicycle stands because of the shape of the bicycle stands,according to the invention, particularly when using spiral notches withcircular arches, and a decisive improvement of the appearance isachieved, that is, also with respect to harmonic adaptation to theenvironment.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofbicycle stands differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in abicycle stand, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. Bicycle stand for parking one bicycle or two bicyclessimultaneously from opposite directions, said bicycle stand comprising avertically extending spiral portion (1) made of circularly bent pipe orsolid material and having ends (2) and (3) standing on the ground, saidends (2) and (3) being lengthened by end pieces (4) and (5), said spiralportion having an upper vertex and an elongated adjoining area extendingbetween said ends and said upper vertex, said vertex together with saidadjoining area having a height which corresponds to the average heightof the steering head pipe/handlebar shaft and seat support/upper portionrear seat stay areas of commercially available bicycles; and a one-piececonnecting brace (6) positioned in the lower area of said spiral portion(1) at opposite arc-shaped portions, respectively, said connecting bracehaving two ends (7) and (8) connected to said spiral portion (1) andbent thereat at such an angle that the spacing between said material ofsaid spiral portion (1) and said connecting brace (6) corresponds atleast to the greatest cross-sectional width of the tires and rims of thecommercially available bicycles.
 2. Bicycle stand according to claim 1,wherein the ends (7) and (8) of said connecting brace (6) have angularpieces which form a stop for the bicycle which is pushed into saidbicycle stand.
 3. Bicycle stand according to claim 1, further includingat least one tie-rod (9) arranged in the lower area of said spiralportion (1) at the opposite arc-shaped portions in such a way that saidtie-rod overlaps a portion of the wheel during the parking of saidbicycles.
 4. Bicycle stand according to claim 1, wherein said spiralportion (a) is at least left-handed and right-handed.
 5. Bicycle standaccording to claim 1, wherein said spiral portion (1) extends with achanging curve radius.
 6. Bicycle stand according to claim 1, whereinsaid material of said spiral portion (1) is angularly bent and saidspiral portion (1) has the shape of a trapezoid (1').
 7. Bicycle standaccording to claim 1, wherein said end pieces (4', 5') are fixed butdetachably attached to said ends (2) and (3) of said spiral portion (1,1', 1"), said end pieces (4', 5') being connected with said spiralportion (1, 1', 1") by pegs (10).
 8. Bicycle stand according to claim 7,wherein another said bicycle stand, is attached to said bicycle stand bypegs (10) so as to be fixed but detachable after said end pieces (4')and (5') are detached.
 9. Bicycle stand according to claim 7, furtherincluding spacer-connection pieces (11, 12, 13, 14) attached to saidends (2) and (3) of said spiral portions (1, 1', 1") by said pegs (10)so as to be fixed but detachable after detaching said end pieces (4')and (5'), said spacer-connection pieces (11, 12, 13, 14) being suitablefor such a connection with said bicycle stand and an optional shape ofsaid pieces determining a spacing between bicycle stands.
 10. Bicyclestand according to claim 8, wherein bicycle stand rows are provided,which are formed in a continuous manner by joining said bicycle standswith one another with spacer-connection pieces (11, 12, 13, 14). 11.Bicycle stand according to claim 7, wherein said spiral portion (1, 1',1"), said end pieces (4, 4', 5, 5') and said connecting brace (6) aremade of metal.
 12. Bicycle stand according to claim 4, wherein saidspiral portion (1) extends with a changing curve radius.
 13. Bicyclestand according to claim 4, wherein said material of said spiral portion(1) is angularly bent and said spiral portion (1) has the shape of atrapezoid (1').
 14. Bicycle stand according to claim 4, wherein the endpieces (4', 5') are attached to said ends (2) and (3) of said spiralportion (1, 1', 1") and connected with said spiral portion (1, 1', 1")by pegs (10).
 15. Bicycle stand according to claim 9, wherein bicyclestand rows are provided which are formed in a continuous manner byjoining bicycle stands with one another.
 16. Bicycle stand according toclaim 5, wherein said spiral portion extends elliptically.
 17. Bicyclestand according to claim 1, wherein said spiral portion has the shape ofrectangle.
 18. Bicycle stand according to claim 1, wherein said spiralportion has the shape of square.
 19. Bicycle stand according to claim 1,wherein said spiral portion has the shape of triangle.
 20. Bicycle standaccording to claim 7, wherein said spiral portion, said end pieces andsaid connecting brace are made of plastic.
 21. Bicycle stand accordingto claim 7, wherein said spiral portion, said end pieces and saidconnecting brace are made of bow wood.